Truss pad



p 1936- H. E. KENWORTHY 2,052,631

TRUSS PAD Filed Feb. 9, 1935 Patented Sept. 1, 1936 hearse stares PATENT or ies 3 Claims.

My invention relates to truss pads adapted to be applied to persons suffering from hernia, and has special reference to such pads as are adapted to be strapped or otherwise secured to the person.

The objects of my invention are, first, to provide a pad which permits the circulation of ventilating air on the skin at the rupture; second, which is resilient and automatically adjusts itself to the attitude of the wearer; third, which constantly presses with a gentle force on the ruptured area; fourth, which tends to draw the ruptured parts together, thereby encouraging the healing of the rupture; fifth, in which parts thereof may be changed to suit the type of rupture and the age of the rupture; and sixth, which is easily applied, eifective in use, and permits the wearer to perform any work which he could have performed before the rupture occurred.

I attain these and other objects by the devices and arrangements illustrated in the accompanying drawing, in which Fig. 1 is a perspective view of my improved pad, adapted for scrotal hernia, before it has been placed in use; Fig. 2 is a vertical section thereof; Fig. 3 is a similar view thereof, showing the parts in their positions when in use, and also showing, in dotted lines, the positions thereof when the body is sitting, bending or stooping; Fig. 4 is a plan view of the outer cushion of the pad, viewed from the inside, the parts being rolled into the positions occupied thereby when the body is sitting or stooping; Fig. 5 is a vertical section of the central pad in the form especially adapted for fresh ruptures or for young persons; Fig. 6 is a plan View of the metal carrier as adapted for use for scrotal hernia; Fig. 7 is a vertical section of my improved pad as adapted for use with non-scrotal types of hernia; Fig. 8 is a similar View thereof, showing the parts in their positions when in use; Fig. 9 is a plan view of the carrier adapted for ordinary types of hernia; and Fig. 10 is a side elevation thereof.

Similar numerals of reference refer to similar parts throughout the several views.

Referring to the drawing, it will be seen that each form of my invention includes an outer carrier or holder. This comprises a metal carrier consisting of a preferably circular plate I, dished outward and having a single central hole 2, in the form which I prefer to use for scrotal hernia (Fig, 6) or with a series of radial slots 3 in the form which I prefer for other cases (Fig. 9). Both forms of carrier plate I are provided with an annular flange 4 extending inward from its inner surface and of slightly less diameter than the said plate I, thus providing a shoulder between the flange 4 and the edge of the plate- I. The scrotal form of carrier plate is shown with three buttons 5 adapted to receive the ends of 5 the straps used to secure it in position on the body. The other form of carrier is provided with a single central button 6 adapted to receive the ends of all the several straps for the same purpose. 10 A resilient rubber cushion is fitted under the rim of the plate I around the flange 4. This cushion comprises a single piece of cast soft rubber formed with an annular bodyI of rounded section, adapted to fit tightly around the said 15 flange 4 and held in place thereby. This ring I has a branch cushion 8, of general U-shape (Fig.

4), integrally cast with said ring I and'of substantially circular section, which extends inward from two diametrically opposite points in the ring 20 I at substantially forty-five degrees, but adapted to be pressed down on to the ring I, against the action of the hereinafter described spring 9, when the pad is in use (Figs. 3 and 8). When viewed in plan, and when not in use, the branch cushion 25 8 lies substantially vertically over the corresponding portions of the annular ring cushion I, and, therefore, as it is bent down, in use, on to the said cushion I, it engages the outer portion thereof because the radius of its form con- 30 stantly increases from the point where it attaches to the cushion I to its apex. The ring I and the branch cushion 8 are joined by an integrally cast thin, flexible web II], which is located somewhat to the inside of the sections I and 8, and is adapt- 35 ed to fold upon itself when the pad is in use (Figs. 3 and 8) A U-shaped spring 9 is caught, at its two ends, between the plate I and the ring I and is shaped to fit under the branch cusln'on 8 adjacent to the web I0, and presses the said branch 40 cushion 8 towards the body and from said plate I. The branch cushion 8 is adapted to roll downward and outward, stretching as it thus rolls over the lower half of the ring I (see Fig. 4 and the dotted lines and the arrows a in Fig. 3) when the body is bending or sitting, giving perfect freedom of movement of the body while stretching taut the skin at the rupture and without releasing the pressure of the pad, and as the body is 50 brought to an erect position the said branch cushion 8 and the web 9 are restored to their original positions and the tension on the skin is relieved.

A sponge-rubber pad II is removably mounted on a disk I2, secured to the small end of a conical 55 spring l3 whose large end is engaged in the cupped or dished part within the annular flange 4 of the above-described plate I (Figs. 1-3). This pad II is intended for use in scrotal hernia.

For milder cases I prefer to use the spongerubber pajd l4 (Fig. 5) which differs from the pad II in th t it is more hollowed and is ventilated by a hole through it, and has greater flexibility on account of its shape.

Both the pads H and I4 are provided at their rear with integral overhanging lips adapted to engage over the disk 12, whereby the said pads are removably mounted on the said spring I3.

For nonscrotal hernia I prefer to use the type of ventilated carrier plate illustrated especially in Figs. 9 and 10, and I also omit the brace spring 9 engaging under the branch cushion 8. Instead of the conical spring I3 with the small pad mounted on its end, I provide a compound cushion pad of soft sponge rubber, shown in section in Figs. '7 and 8. This cushion pad is hollow and comprises the outer stiffer hemispherical part [5, which rests in the cup or dish of the plate ,I, and havinga thin flexible neck 96 ending in a ring l l. and surrounded on its outer surface by a ring or corrugation'IB. When in use (Fig. 8) the rings I? and is are contracted, drawing the skin at the rupture inwards, and the neck I6 bends to conform with the body. The hole in the neck does not, however, close but permits the skin to be ventilated at the rupture. 7

Thus it will be seen that, when my improved truss pad is in use, the outer cushion engages the skin surrounding the ruptured area. When the body is moved, as in stooping or sitting, the cushion 8 stretches and rolls down the surface of the cushion T and, in so doing, stretches the skin taut in the ruptured area while the pad H or M is pressed on the ruptured part by the spring 13.

Or, as in Figs. '7 and 8, the outer cushions act as above described while the central ball-cushion l5-I8 presses on and tends to draw the skin together over the ruptured part.

I have shown several variations in the form of the central cushion or pad as samples, but it is to be understood that many other variations may be made to flt particular conditions without departing from the spirit of. my invention as outlined in the appended claims. 7

Having described my invention, what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is:

1. A truss comprising a dished plate adapted to be strapped to the body; an annular flange extending from said plate and of less diameter than said plate; an annular cushion mounted on said annular flange and adapted to surround the ruptured area; a flexible resilient branch cushion, integral with said annular cushion and extending therefrom in U-shaped form from two opposite points thereof; a flexible web joining said annular cushion with said U-shaped cushion; and an' inner pad resiliently supported by said plate and adapted to press on the ruptured area.

2. A truss as set forth in claim 1, together with a U-shaped spring engaging under said plate and said branch cushion and adapted to press said branch cushion away from said plate.

3. A truss as set forth in claim 1, wherein the radius of said branch cushion ,is slightly greater than that of the annular cushion and is adapted to lie on the outer surface of said annular cushion when in use and to roll and stretch thereon under body movements, and to apply tension to the skin during said movements.

' HENRY E. KENWQRTHY. 

